BEMIDJI, Minn. – The No. 21 Bemidji State University Women's Soccer team earned a 1-0 victory over University of Mary in the first round of the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Women's Soccer Tournament Monday evening at Chet Anderson Stadium.
 
Fifth-year senior Halle Peterson scored the game-winning goal for the Beavers (12-2-5, 10-1-4 NSIC) in the 61^st minute to send the Beavers to Mankato, Minn., for the semifinal round of the NSIC Tournament.
 
The Beavers were held off the scoreboard by a stingy Marauder (10-5-4, 7-4-4) defense that held BU to just one shot on goal in the first half. BSU was able to breakthrough in the second half however, when the Beavers were awarded a free kick at the 23-yard mark and a beautifully run set piece was converted by Peterson after her 23-yard strike deflected off a Marauder defender and into the bottom left of the goal.
 
Peterson received a touch pass from Megan Majewski who recorded her fourth assist of the season while Peterson scored her first career game-winning goal.
 
The Beavers' defense was too formidable for the Marauders and Mary was only able to produce one shot in the second half which failed to find the mark on goal.
 
Peterson and the Bemidji State defense earned their 12^th shutout of the season while senior Georgiana Harber earned her sixth shutout of the season and improves to 6-0-2 this season.
 
The Beavers will now travel to Mankato as top-seed Minnesota State University, Mankato will host the semifinals and championship rounds of the conference tournament. The Beavers will attempt to win the program's first NSIC Women's Soccer Championship this weekend but must first face Augustana University in the semifinal round. The Beavers and Vikings (11-6-2, 10-4-1 NSIC) will play their match Friday, Nov. 4 at the Maverick Soccer Complex in Mankato at 11 a.m.
 
For more information on the Bemidji State soccer program, follow the Beavers on Twitter (@BSUBeaversSoccer), like them on Facebook (facebook.com/BSUBeavers) and follow them on Instagram (@BSUBeaversSoccer)
 
Nestled in Northern Minnesota's wooden region and located on the shore of Lake Bemidji, BSU sponsors 15 varsity athletic programs with NCAA Division I men's hockey membership in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and women's hockey membership in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, while its 13 NCAA Division II programs hold membership in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC).
 
--bsu--